Jeb Bush to Talker Rita Cosby: Trump Sounds Like a Typical Politician
In the exclusive interview, Bush says quote, “Well, I can only say that whatever his views are this morning, they might change this afternoon, and they were different than they were last night, and they’ll be different tomorrow. So I can’t comment on his views, because his views are… they seem to be ever, ever changing, depending on what crowd he’s in front of. Sounds like a typical politician, by the way, where you get in front of one crowd and say one thing, and then say something else to another crowd that may want to hear a different view. All the things that Donald Trump railed against, he seems to be morphing into – it’s kind of disturbing.”
Jeb Bush further tells WABC Radio’s Rita Cosby, “I don’t know what to believe about a guy who doesn’t believe in things. I mean he doesn’t… this is all a game. He doesn’t… his views will change based on the feedback he gets from a crowd, or, you know, what he thinks he has to do. Life is too complex. For me I couldn’t do that. I have to believe what I believe, and if it’s popular, great, if it’s not, I try to get better at presenting my views. But shifting my views because, because it’s political to do it? That’s what politicians do in this country, that’s what Trump is trying to do right now. I find it abhorrent.”
However, Bush says Trump’s new softening on his hard line immigration stance is a good thing for the GOP, “I’m happy he is making efforts to reach out to constituencies that Republicans have ignored. I think that’s a very healthy thing for our party. It’s a smart thing for him to do, if it’s sincere.” But Bush ends his comments on Trump with a final swipe on Trump’s new change of position, saying “But his views on immigration, I can’t comment on because we’re talking in the morning of… (aside) This is Thursday morning right? … and tomorrow it might be different.”
00:00 – RC: And Governor Bush, you and I were talking earlier – I do want to ask you very quickly about immigration because that has been such a big issue, of course, in the last 24 hours or so, and a lot of people are saying that Donald Trump is softening his stance on immigration, on dealing with the eleven million undocumented individuals in America, and in many ways similar to what you were talking about and what he gave you heat about during the debates. What’s your reaction?
00:24 – JB: Well, I can only say that whatever his views are this morning, they might change this afternoon, and they were different than they were last night, and they’ll be different tomorrow. So I can’t comment on his views, because his views are… they seem to be ever, ever changing, depending on what crowd he’s in front of. Sounds like a typical politician, by the way, where you get in front of one crowd and say one thing, and then say something else to another crowd that may want to hear a different view. All the things that Donald Trump railed against, he seems to be morphing into – it’s kind of disturbing. I can tell you what I’m for, which is meaningful reform, across the board, so that we secure the border, first and foremost, and there are all sorts of ways that we need to do that, including an E-verify system, and including visa reform, because 40% of illegal immigrants don’t cross the southern border. They come with a legal visa, and they just stay. I mean, the whole debate is based on something that may have been more relevant five years ago. So controlling the border, controlling our immigration systems, so coming here legally is a lot easier than coming here illegally, is part of it. And then we need comprehensive reform, including dealing with the eleven to twelve million people that are here illegally. And it’s just not feasible to deport every one of them as Donald Trump used to believe – now I don’t know what his beliefs are now, but the simple process is a path to legal status, not a path to citizenship, where you pay a fine, where you work, where you don’t receive government assistance, where you learn English, and you pay your taxes, and over an extended period of time, you earn legal status. You come out from the shadows, and you have a provisional permit to live here, if you commit a crime, you’re deported. That’s been my view for the last five years. I wrote a book called, ‘Immigration Wars,’ if people want to see a comprehensive approach to immigration reform, I hope they’ll go buy it. It’s probably a buck ninety-nine on Amazon these days.
02:28 – RC: That seems to be what he is advocating in many ways, or what he’s suggesting.
02:32 – JB: Well I’m sure I influenced his position (laughs).
02:35 – RC: (laughs) Do you believe that in some way? Do you believe he’s coming around to your decision?
02:39 – JB: I don’t, I don’t know what to believe about a guy who doesn’t believe in things. I mean he doesn’t… this is all a game. He doesn’t… his views will change based on the feedback he gets from a crowd, or, you know, what he thinks he has to do. Life is too complex. For me I couldn’t do that. I have to believe what I believe, and if it’s popular, great, if it’s not, I try to get better at presenting my views. But shifting my views because, because it’s political to do it? That’s what politicians do in this country, that’s what Trump is trying to do right now. I find it abhorrent.
03:13 – RC: Is it possible too that he’s just now, as he’s said, he’s been talking to people, and he’s shaped it based on what people are saying, that that’s changed his opinion. It’s a genuine, maybe change, do you believe?
03:22 – JB: Yeah, I don’t know. We’ll find out tomorrow. I mean, it’s ever changing. So, I’m happy he is making efforts to reach out to constituencies that Republicans have ignored. I think that’s a very healthy thing for our party. It’s a smart thing for him to do, if it’s sincere. But his views on immigration, I can’t comment on because we’re talking in the morning of… (aside) This is Thursday morning right? …and tomorrow it might be different.
03:55 – RC: Well, Governor Jeb Bush, thank you very much.
03:56 – JB: Thanks Rita.
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